RESOLUTION SUPPORTING ATTENDANCE AT THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES BUILDING
EQUITABLE COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ROUNDTABLE.

CITY PROPOSAL:

RESOLVED, that the mayor, through the city’s community development
division, commits to convene a group of community leaders and representatives
of city government to attend the National League of Cities Technical
Assistance Roundtable on Building Equitable Communities on May 11 through 14
of 2008 in Savannah, Georgia, at which a year-one action plan and vision for a
future prosperity agenda will be developed.

CD KO:jle 2/1/2008

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution formalizes support for community
leaders and city representatives to attend the Building Equitable Communities
Roundtable and to develop an action plan to increase prosperity in Duluth.
There are a number of reasons why the city administration supports this
effort:

1.The National League of Cities has called for city halls across the
country to tap into their power to build equitable and inclusive
communities.

2.Research indicates that the number of people experiencing poverty in
Duluth is disproportionate to those experiencing it on a state and
national level.

3.Persons seeking employment in Northeast Minnesota are faced with the
median starting wage of $8.50, though the livable wage for a single
person with one dependent in St. Louis County is $14.80.

The city administration, working with this collaboration, can result in a
city-wide prosperity agenda that includes building Duluthians’ incomes and
assets, creating safe and sustainable communities, and strengthening the
economy for all.